Jake Bailey

Jake Bailey was selected by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (165th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Jake Bailey was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (163rd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2020 (16/0)

• Earned his first career Pro Bowl invitation and Associated Press All-Pro: First-team honors. Also named to the PFWA All-AFC Team, the Pro FOotball Weekly All-NFL team, and was a Sporting News All-Pro.
• Played in all 16 games and totaled 55 punts for 2,678 yards (48.7 avg. 45.6 net.) with five touchbacks, 31 downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line and a long of 71 yards. His 45.6 net punting average led the league, was the second-highest in NFL history and set a new Patriots record. His gross punt average of 48.7 also set a new team record.
• Punted three times for 119 yards (39.7 avg.) in the season opening win vs. Miami (9/13). Landed all three punts inside the opponent 20 yard line.
• Punted twice for 113 yards (56.5 avg.), including a 57-yard kick in the second quarter vs. Seattle (9/20). Made a special teams tackle on a kickoff in the second quarter.
• Punted twice in a Week 3 win over Las Vegas (9/27) for 95 total yards, averaging 47.5 yards with a long of 54 yards and landed one inside the twenty. He also handled kickoff duties.
• Dropped all three of his punts inside the chiefs 20 yard line (15, 5, 11), highlighted by a 47-yard kick that landed out of bounds at the KC five-yard line in the first quarter. Averaged 52.3 yards per punt with a long of 58 for 157 total yards in a week four loss at Kansas City (10/5).
• Punted three times in a Week 6 loss vs. Denver (10/18), including two 50+ yard punts, had another fair caught at the Bronco 9 yard line. Bailey's 60 yard boot in the third quarter that was fair caught at the Denver 15 yard line was was his longest punt of the year and was the fourth longest of his career.
• Delivered two punts inside the San Francisco (10/25) 20 yard line in a Week 7 loss. First punt was fair caught at the SF 12-yard line in the first quarter. His second was fair caught at the SF 16 yard line in the second quarter.
• Punted four times for 173 yards with an average of 43.3 in a Week 8 loss to Buffalo (11/1). Forced a fair catch at the Buffalo 8-yard line in the third quarter. Following a Buffalo three and out and a 15 yard Gunner Olszewki punt return, the Patriots took over at the Bills 37. Six plays later, Damien Harris ran in from 22 yards, tying the game at 14-14 after a two-point conversion.
• Booted a 59-yard punt to the Jets 14 yard line, where is was returned by former Patriot Braxton Berrios. Following a holding penalty, the Jets took over at their own seven yard line resulting in 66-yards of field position. Also handed all kickoff and holding duties in a Week 9 come from behind win at the Jets (11/9).
• Punted four times in a Week 10 win vs. Baltimore (11/15) for 173 total yards. He dropped two balls inside the 20, one in the first quarter to the Ravens 6 yard line and then pinned the ravens to their own 17-yard line with 1:05 left. Bill Belichick made it a point to shout out Bailey and others for taking care of the ball in windy and rainy conditions.
• Punted three times in a Week 11 loss at Houston (11/22). Compiled 151 yards with a net average of 45.7 yards and a long of 59. Twice pinned the Texans at their own 20 yard line following short returns.
• Averaged 56.3 yards on three punts in a Week 12 win vs. Arizona (11/29). His 50 yard punt in the first quarter landed at the one yard line and spun back to the three, where it was downed by Justin Bethel. Had a 59-yard punt in the second quarter and then had a touchback on a 60-yard boot in the third quarter.
• Punted four times for a total of 197 yards in a Week 13 win at the Chargers (12/6). Landed three punts inside the LA 10-yard line. Assisted on a kickoff tackle with Justin Bethel in the first quarter, his first of the year.
• Boomed a career-long 71-yard punt in the fourth quarter of a Week 14 loss at the Rams (12/10). His previous best was 65 yards, which he accomplished three times, most recently at the LA Chargers on Dec. 6,2020. He also had a 65-yard punt vs. Dallas on Nov. 24, 2019 and at Cincinnati on Dec. 15, 2019. Bailey's 71 yard punt is the first 70-yard punt for the Patriots since Chris Hanson had a 70-yard punt vs. Kansas City on Sept. 7, 2008. It is the longest punt for the Patriots since 2001, when Lee Johnson registered a 76-yard punt at Cincinnati on Sept. 9, 2001. In total, punted 6 times and landed four inside the Rams 20 yard line and averaged 51 yards with a net of 50.3.
• Punted twice for a total of 93 yards in a Week 15 loss at Miami (12/20). His late first quarter boot landed inside the five yard line, before being saved from the end zone by Matthew Slater and downed at the two yard line by Justin Bethel. All in all 2020, Bailey has allowed an NFL low of 46 punt return yards. The Patriots record for fewest punt return yards allowed in a season is 75 in 2007.
• Punted seven times in a Week 16 loss vs. Buffalo (12/28). Landed four balls inside the 20, including one that was downed by Justin Bethel at the five yard line in the third quarter. Totaled 362 yards with a new average of 48.1 yards and a long of 62 yards.
• Punted six times for a total of 272 yards in a Week 17 win vs. the Jets (1/3). Landed 3 punt inside the 20 yard line and averaged 45.3 yards per punt and a net average of 38.7. On the six total punts, the Jets accumulated zero return yards. Three were fair caught, two were touchbacks and one landed out of bounds.

2019 (16/0, 1/0)

• Played in all 16 regular-season contests and finished the season with 81 punts for 3,638 yards (44.9 avg., 41.3 net avg.) with six touchbacks, 36 downed inside the 20-yard line and a long of 65. His 36 punts downed inside the 20-yard line set a new franchise mark and 44.9 avg. and 41.3 net are Patriots rookie records. Ryan Allen (2015) and Lee Johnson (2000) previously held the team record of 31 punts downed inside the opponent 20-yard line.
• Punted five times for 230 yards including a long of 61 yards with two punts inside the 20-yard line and two touchbacks in the AFC Wild Card loss vs. Tennessee (1/4).
• Also utilized as holder on extra points and field goals, while also handling kickoff duties after Stephen Gostkowski landed on injured reserve after Week 4.
• Made his NFL debut and punted three times for a total of 123 yards, including a 53-yarder that went out of bounds deep in the Steelers territory during the win vs. Pittsburgh (9/8). Also held for all extra points and field goal attempts.
• Punted seven times for a total of 310 yards with five punts being down inside the 20-yard line in the win vs. N.Y. Jets (9/22). His five punts forced the Jets to start drives at their own 12, 10, 8, 8 and 1-yard line. Was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
• Punted six times for 286 yards with a long of 57, while also handling kickoff duties for the first time in his pro career during the win at Washington (10/6).
• Punted five times for 233 yards and landing three inside the 20-yard line while handling kickoff duties in the loss at Baltimore (11/3). Also made his first career special teams tackle.
• Punted eight times for 381 yards, landing six punts inside the 20-yard line and recording five punts longer than 50 yards at Philadelphia (11/17). His final punt netted 54 yards and landed at the 12-yard line, pinning the Eagles back deep in their own territory with no timeouts late in the game. Was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
• Punted six times for 263 yards, landing two inside the 20-yard line and setting a new career-long with a 65-yard punt in the third quarter in the win vs. Dallas (11/24).
• Punted four times for 165 yards while handling kickoff duties in the loss vs. Kansas City (12/8). Bailey landed his first punt inside the 20-yard line, moving his season total to 32 punts inside the 20 and set a new franchise record.
• Punted four times for 178 yards with a long of 57 yards and three punts inside the 20-yard line, extending his inside-the-20 team record to 36 in the loss vs. Miami (12/29).

COLLEGE

• Three-time All-Pac-12 honoree – second team (2017, 2018) and honorable mention (2016).
• Two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention (2017, 2018).
• Finished as Stanford's all-time career leader in punting average (43.81).
• Finished sixth in school history with 185 career punts.
• Finished sixth in school history with 8,105 career punt yards.
• Recorded the longest punt in school history (84 yards) at Cal (12/1/18).
• Totaled 185 punts for 8,105 yards (43.8), 17 touchbacks, 51 fair catches, 76 inside the 20, and 54 of 50+ yards in 52 career games.
• Registered 291 kickoffs for 18,428 yards (63.3) and 173 touchbacks.

PERSONAL:

• Played at Santa Fe Christian (Calif.) and connected on 12-of-16 field goals – including 54-yarder – as a senior. Also made 26-of-27 extra points.
• Made three field goals of 50 or more yards and 40 touchbacks on 47 kickoffs as a senior.
• Averaged 44.1 yards/punt as a senior, including 71-yarder.
• Lettered in football, track and field, and soccer and is school record holder in long jump (21-4).
• Full name is Jacob Richard Bailey.
• Majored in science, technology and society (innovation and organization).

HONORS AND AWARDS

• 2019: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Wk. 3).
• 2019: AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Wk. 11).

EXTRA POINTS

• Following his rookie season, Jake Bailey returned to the classroom at Stanford and completed the requirements needed to earn his degree in science, technology and society.

NOTES:

• Jake Bailey became the ninth punter to be drafted by the Patriots and the second under Bill Belichick, joining P Zoltan Mesko who was drafted in the fifth round out of Michigan in 2010. He is the second punter to be drafted out of Stanford by New England, joining Ken Naber, who was drafted in the eighth-round of the 1981 draft.